The Para's are surrounded at Bastone so the 4th was ordered to spearhead. Dispatching a recon we encountered an enemy force Est. at 5 platoons scattered in the village and tree lines. I had the Recon company attack down the road while A company went thru the woods on the right Meanwhile I committed 2 76mm M-4's along with B co's Tank platoon of 5 Sherman 75mm tanks along with 8 1/2 tracks on the open fields to the left flank. We un hinged the enemy force forcing them to pull back. They countered attacked with 2 Stug III 's and a Captured Sherman. Lo ssing all their Armor they departed.
While screening the right flank of CCA 4th Armor , we pushed back an Est 100 infantry positioned in the tree line near a village. I used 3 Tanks with 5 1/2 tracks of C Company, 1 st Plt, 37th Armor in the Clearing coming up the road while B Company and 2 platoons from E company along with 1 Anti aircraft 1/2 track and 5 1/2 tracks with 2 30 cal Mg went up the small road thru the tree line. I laid in a smoke screen to the clearing front then hit them in the flank. The enemy was dislodged taking losses. The enemy I.D was a Luftwaffe unit. supported by 1 Stug III.
Losses: 1 Stug III, 59 KIA, 26 Wnd along with Mg 34's rifles 2 Motar's 4 Panzer check. U.S. Lost: 22 KIA,7 wnd, 2 missing 1 M-4 75mm gun was lost to a Panzer check that was hid by the road way. In addition 3 1/2 tracks ( 1 had 4 50 cal Mg's ) + 1 Motar carrying 1/2 track.
